Kramer working on housing plan

POLICE Minister Bryan Kramer, says the Government is in talks with Nambawan Super to initiate a partnership to help address the housing needs of police personnel.
“We are giving priority to the long outstanding housing issue. It is no more just lip service as in the past,” he said in a post on his Facebook.
“My office has already commenced discussions with the country’s largest Superannuation Fund chairman (Anthony Smare).
“Smare explained that Nambawan Super plans to build more than 3,000 houses at 9-Mile in Port Moresby.
“A project I hope the Government will buy some 1,000 houses to house police personnel and their families.
“In addition, we also discussed establishing a police home ownership scheme in which officers who have served between 10 and 15 years will benefit.”
Kramer said there was no point for the Government to provide police housing only to kick them out on the street without any recognition of their service to the country.
“Last week, I took the initiative to contact Red Sea Company who were contracted to build 150 houses for the force in Bomana in 2015.
“The K52 million housing project remains uncompleted because the previous Government failed to meet its financial obligations.
“The developer has yet to connect power, water and sewerage facilities because the Government owes it K40 million. The houses also need furnishing.
“We will also look at corporate tax credit schemes to fund the building of houses for police personnel nationwide,” he added.
Kramer said he was scheduled to open the K4.6 million Gusap Police Housing Project in Ramu, Madang, on July 8, a project funded by New Britain Palm Oil Ltd under a tax credit scheme.